Because of this, ships use them only when they are far out in space, in order to get themselves to the nearest gate.

The force and proximity of the explosion had torn through the IAPH, but a handful of the pirates would probably have survived, sheltered by their ships or other habitats, Niko thought. Was Tubal Last one of them? Did he know what she had done, would he still be pursuing her? And even if this version of him were dead, he—like Arpat—would have a backup somewhere, one that would be activated as soon as the news of his demise arrived.

Her stomach dropped, and she said out loud, involuntarily, “Petalia…”

“My heart grieves for your sorrow, Captain,” Dabry murmured.

“Is Petalia a Florian?” the ship asked.

“They were one, yes,” Niko said. “Did you see them? Did Tubal bring them aboard at some point?”

“He did, but Petalia is also currently in the secondary hold.”

“What?” Niko said in disbelief.

“They entered approximately one minute after you did.”

“What are they doing right now?”

“I have them constrained in the manner in which I held all of you during takeoff,” the ship said. “It seemed likely that they were an intruder.”

“Ship, you shouldn’t be able to confine a gentlebeing against their will like that. It’s an illegal capability,” Dabry protested.

“If I can do it, how can it be illegal?” the Thing asked.

“I am suspecting that we may have different definitions at work here,” Niko said. She looked at Dabry. “That gives us something to work with. There’s a good chance they’ll know where Last’s backup—or backups, more probably—are, and with planning—and luck—we may be able to outrace the news. We do have one of the fastest ships in the Known Universe, after all.”

“A rogue ship,” Dabry said. “Are you listening to me? It shouldn’t be able to confine people like that. Something’s gone awry.”

Niko shook her head. “We’ll have that conversation another time. Right now, release all of us, Thing.”

The tendrils slid away, and they moved to the screens, each seeking data.

“We got hurled way the hell out when the snap drive activated. We’re headed toward Montmurray for now,” Gio reported. “That’s the largest and most obvious portal, gets us to plenty of other hubs. Be there in eight days.”

Niko was watching the screen where Petalia stood stock-still, tendrils around them.

“Well, then,” she said. “I guess we might as well find out what sort of hand Momma Sky’s decided to deal us.”

They let Niko go down to speak to Petalia by herself, although it was clear that Dabry wanted to accompany her. In the end, he compromised and hovered in the hallway.